P3.9M allocated to rehabilitate, conserve Tañon Strait in Cebu
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, April 16 (PIA) -- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 Regional Executive Director Maximo O. Dichoso said that P3.9 million has been earmarked for various projects, programs, and activities along the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS).
This came after the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) executive committee, in its meeting last April 12 chaired by Dichoso, approved the work and financial plan for 2012 of TSPS.
The budget allocation is intended to advance protected area management, and nature conservation and rehabilitation.
Dichoso said that the Board is preparing to implement programs that would encourage critical cooperation from other stakeholders in protecting and preserving all protected areas in Cebu and in all neighboring provinces within the region.
“Cebu Province has 29 protected areas which is considered a great number among all provinces in the Philippines,” he added.
On the other hand, seven special use agreements in protected areas (SAPA) applications which were deliberated, reviewed and evaluated by the respective site management units (SMUs) whose areas are within TSPS, also obtained the endorsement of the PAMB during the said meeting.
The seven protected area applications are: Ecotourism Park and Visitor Center in Samboan, Cebu; Riverbank Protection Facility, and Bangus Culture in Cage of Baha-baha Fishermen Association, Inc. both in Aloguinsan, Cebu; Bangus Culture in Cage, and Wharf Rehabilitation and Extension Project, also both in Ronda, Cebu; Campuyo Wharf in Manhuyod, Negros Oriental, Tamuyong River Estuarine, and Mangrove Rehabilitation in Negros Oriental.
SAPA is a binding instrument between the DENR through the PAMB. SAPA may be issued within protected areas except in strict nature reserves and shall be confined only to the management zones of the protected area appropriate for the purpose.
Meanwhile, the SAPA may be cancelled by the Secretary or his authorized representative as recommended by the PAMB for any of the following: violation of non-compliance with any terms and conditions stipulated in the SAPA, the ECC and permits issued by other government agencies, if the agreement was obtained through fraud, misrepresentation or omission of material facts existing at the time of filing of the application, abandonment of the area or failure to exercise the privilege granted within the prescribed period of one year from the issuance of SAPA without justifiable cause, bankruptcy or closure of the operation, violation of natural resources laws, rules and regulations.
These applications were accepted, reviewed and endorsed by Site Management (SMU) Cluster II Negros Oriental and Cebu SMU after all mandatory requirements were complied with such as Sangguniang Bayan (SB) resolutions, Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and other permits.
The PAMB Executive Committee recently deliberated and favorably endorsed the said projects in a form of a PAMB resolution for the DENR Secretary’s appropriate action.(rmn-PIA 7/HFG/DENR-7)
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BIR-RDO 13 aiming for bigger tax collections from Cebu tourism industry‘today is the deadline for the filing of Income Tax Return’
CEBU CITY, April 16 (PIA) -- With an increasing tax collection target every year, meeting its target goal year after year remains to be a big challenge to the Bureau of Internal Revenue - Revenue District Office (BIR-RDO) 13 based in Cebu which hopes to get larger tax collections from the booming local tourism industry.
BIR-RDO 13 Regional Director Rodita Galanto said that Cebu and Bohol which are under their coverage areas are prime tourism destinations while the continuing growth of the tourism sector will spur more tourism-related business to sprout.
“Tourism is a top-ranking industry and a vital driver of economic growth. Cebu on the other hand, is recognized as one of the top tourism destinations in the country. Our challenge then is to see to it that business establishments under the industry will be properly taxed like the hotels, restaurants, resorts, cafes and its other allied services like spas and transport,” bared Galanto.
Galanto said that achieving its target goal for this year which has been hiked from P12.4 billion last year to 14.3 billion this year is a huge challenge especially that the agency has consistently exceeded its collection targets since 2009.
“We are strengthening our tax collections conducting regular tax information campaign to all sectors. In fact, we already completed our info drive to all local government units in our coverage areas,” revealed Galanto.
According to Galanto, they also conducted tax info drive to self-employed professionals like doctors, dentists, engineers, accountants, real estate broker and customs broker.
“We are asking the self-employed professionals to state their actual annual earnings and give due taxes to the government,” the BIR-RDO 13 chief claimed.
Conrado Lee, assistant regional director of BIR-RDO 13 said that in order for self-employed professionals to be able to declare their actual earnings, “we urge everyone to demand official receipt every time they pay fees to these self-employed professionals.”
“It is the only way to force self-employed professionals to declare their actual income by demanding your right as a client for an official receipt,” Lee disclosed.
Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III in his 2011 State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) said there is an estimated 1.7M self-employed professionals in the country. And citing the BIR as source, Pres. Aquino expressed in disbelief that self-employed professionals only reported an average monthly income of P8,500 and pay taxes to the government at an average of less than P6,000.
One of the priorities of the current administration is to increase tax collections and go after tax cheats as the BIR here endorsed one company based in Mandaue City to their Central Office for possible case of tax fraud.
“Please help us attain this year’s target,” appealed Galanto “as every tax you pay is returned in the form of basic services like infrastructure provided by the government to improve our life.” (PIA-Cebu)
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LTFRB central office to decide on P1.50 fare hike for Cebu
CEBU CITY, April 16 (PIA) -- Only the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Central Office can determine whether the petition for a P1.50 fare hike for public utility jeepneys (PUJ) in Cebu is valid.
LTFRB-7 Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer Reynaldo C. Elnar said they cannot really say whether the petition of the Cebu Integrated Transport Services Cooperative (Citrasco) for a fare adjustment would be granted.
The Citrasco has filed a petition to the LTFRB-7 for a fare adjustment of P1.50 raising transport fares from the current minimum of P7.50 to P9 for the first five kilometers and P.90 to P 1.50 for the succeeding kilometer. Incessant fuel price increases and high operating and maintenance costs were cited as the main factors behind the petition.
After the LTFRB-7 received Citrasco’s petition, it immediately conducted a public hearing to hear the sides of all those who are for and against the said petition. The petitioner was also required to submit formal evidences on the urgent need for a fare adjustment.
“Our role here at the LTFRB 7 is just to receive petitions, conduct hearings and forward such petitions to the Central Office for resolution,” said Elnar.
Elnar added they cannot give any information regarding the progress of the petition because “it is not us that will decide, it is the central board in Manila and upon the approval of the chairman from our Central Office.”
The Central Office team that will decide are Atty. Jaime D. Jacob together with Board Members Atty. Manuel M. Iway and Engr. Samuel B. Garcia, disclosed Elnar.
According to Elnar, the decision-making process is a tedious one as the board would have to scrutinize the validity of the petition taking into consideration the sentiments of the riding public, operators, drivers and others who will be affected by the fare increase.
There is still no possible date on when the petition will be decided, Elnar said. "It will take time because the Board cannot immediately decide on such a petition that will impact on a number of sectors. There are still many factors to consider.” (FCR/Kimberly Gee Binga-an CNU intern/PIA-Cebu)
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Water district launches water supply projects in 3 Cebu City barangays
By Shiela Fe Delos Reyes-CNU Comm Intern
CEBU CITY, April 16 (PIA) -- The Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) launched their potable water supply in three barangays - Talamban, Pit-os, and Bacayan - in Cebu City
The launching of the project was highlighted by a groundbreaking ceremony and presentation of the water service project by MCWD assistant general manager for Technical Services Michael Balazo.
Engr. Armando Paredes, MCWD general manager, said that in the last three years, they tested the water and found that it contained clay.
“Dili na magamit ang puso kay nahubsan, magsalig na sa mineral water, dili tanan maka-afford (The water from the artesian well depleted so that’s the reason why people are now depending on mineral water, but not all of them can afford to sustain that in the long run)," Paredes said.
According to Bacayan Brgy. Capt. Armando Borces, residents are buying mineral water from private suppliers at P40 per cubic meter or more, which is higher than the rates charged by MCWD.
The water district is expecting to supply 12,000 cubic meters of water supply per day to the three barangays.
The project cost is pegged at P54 million which will be initiated by the contractor New Culion Builders.
The project's target date of completion is December 9, 2012. (PIA7)